Rangers' Jacob Trouba avoids supplemental discipline for hit on Penguins' Sidney Crosby
New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba wasn't sent to the penalty box for his controversial high hit that presumably knocked Pittsburgh Penguins superstar captain Sidney Crosby out of Wednesday's Game 5 in the second period. New York ultimately won 5-3 to force a Game 6 of the first-round playoff series Friday night in Pittsburgh.
As far as the NHL is concerned, the matter is closed.
Multiple outlets, TSN's Pierre LeBrun, reported that Trouba will face no supplemental discipline from the league. Crosby, who has a long history of head injuries and issues related to concussions, attempted to remain in the game but exited the bench before the second period concluded with the Penguins holding a 2-0 lead.
Pittsburgh quickly surrendered three goals in the frame en route to suffering the two-goal defeat, and Crosby never returned to the ice. The Pens still lead the series 3-2.
"Did you see the hit? You probably have the same opinion I do," Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan answered Wednesday night when asked about the incident.
Per Audacy, Sullivan remarked on Thursday that "it’s not my responsibility to share my opinion, that’s the league’s job" when asked if he thought Trouba should be fined and/or suspended.
Crosby's status for Friday is up in the air, as all Sullivan would say Thursday is that the center is being evaluated for an unspecified upper-body injury. Up until Wednesday's development, the Crosby line had dominated the Rangers throughout the series, and ESPN stats note that the 34-year-old leads all Pittsburgh players with nine points and seven assists across the past five contests.
"He's a great leader. He's the standard," Sullivan added about Crosby, according to Wes Crosby of the NHL's website. "He personifies what it means to be a Pittsburgh Penguin. So he's not only a leader through his actions, but he's a leader through his demeanor and how he carries himself. He's a voice of reason through an emotional, turbulent game.
"So that's what he brings to our team. He's just a great leader, both on the ice and off the ice. I'm probably stating the obvious, but he means a lot to this organization. He means a lot to this team."
Game 7, if necessary, would be on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. No time for that potential matchup was known as of early Thursday afternoon.
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